Parlour Magic

by Henry Perkins

Overview

Amaze your friends with timeless magic tricks!

Originally published in 1838, Parlour Magic contains over 350 party tricks that will impress even the most skeptical of audiences. These memorable experiments require only household items, scientific principles, and wit. Using this book, you will be able to:

• Shatter bulletproof glass with a few grains of sand
• Change the color of a rose with a match
• Create visible sparks with a friendly cat
• Transform oil and water into soap with a drop of ammonia
• And much more!

These parlor tricks are the foundation of modern illusion magic for good reason—they are simply astounding. With Parlour Magic, you can continue the 200-year tradition!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781429096904
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	01/17/2023
Series:	Applewood Books
Pages:	196
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.00(h) x 0.60(d)

Table of Contents

Transmutations.
The Spectral Lamp . . . 1
Curious Change of Colours . . . 2
The Protean Light . . . 2
The Chameleon Flowers . . . 3
To change the Colours of Flowers . . . 3
Changes of the Poppy . . . 3
To change the Colour of a Rose . . . 4
Light changing White into Black . . . 4
The Visibly growing Acorn . . . 4
Changes in Sap-Green . . . 5
To revive apparently dead Plants . . . 5
Singular effect of Tears . . . 5
Beauties of Crystallization . . . 5
To crystallize Camphor . . . 7
Crystallized Tin . . . 7
Crystals in hard Water . . . 7
Varieties of Crystals . . . 7
Heat from Crystallization . . . 8
Splendid Sublimation . . . 8
Artificial Ice . . . 8
Magic Inks . . . 8
Chameleon Liquids . . . 9
The Magic Dyes . . . 9
Wine changed into water . . . 10
Two colourless transparent Liquids become black and opaque . . . 10
Two colourless Fluids make a coloured one . . . 10
Change of colour by colourless Fluids . . . 10
To change a Blue Liquid to White . . . 11
Veritable "Black" Tea . . . 11
Resoration of Colour by Water . . . 11
The Magic Writing . . . 12
Two Liquids make a Solid . . . 12
Two Solids make a Liquid . . . 12
A solid opaque mass made a transparent Liquid . . . 12
Two cold Liquids make a hot one . . . 12
Quadruple Transmutation . . . 13
Quintuple Transmutation . . . 13
Combination of Colours . . . 13
Union of two Metals without Heat . . . 13
Magic Breath . . . 13
Two Bitters make a Sweet . . . 14
Visible and Invisible . . . 14

Sight and Sound.
Artificial Mirage . . . 17
Motion of the Eye . . . 18
Single Vision with two Eyes . . . 19
Two objects seen as one . . . 19
Only one object can be seen at a time . . . 20
Straight objects seen crooked . . . 20
Optical Illusion . . . 21
Pin-hole Focus . . . 21
Optical Deceptions . . . 22
Accuracy of Sight . . . 22
Visual Deception . . . 23
Handwriting upon the Wall . . . 23
Imitative Haloes . . . 23
To read a Coin in the dark . . . 24
To make a Prism . . . 24
Optical Augmentation . . . 25
Gold Fish in a glass Globe . . . 26
Colours produced by the unequal action of Light upon the Eyes . . . 26
Optical Deception . . . 27
Coloured Shadows . . . 27
Colours of Scratches . . . 27
Ocular Spectra . . . 28
Beautiful Colours of Mother of Pearl . . . 28
White Letters seen further than Black . . . 29
Artificial Rainbow . . . 29
Fringe about a Candle . . . 29
The Double Coloured Reflection . . . 30
Luminous Cross . . . 30
Ring of Colours round a Candle . . . 30
Simple and Cheap Opera-glass . . . 31
Multiplying Theatres . . . 31
Apparatus for Writing in the Dark . . . 32
Portable Microscope . . . 33
The Phenakisticope or Stoboscope . . . 34
To look at the Sun without injury . . . 35
Brilliant Water Mirror . . . 35
Optical Illusion under Water . . . 35
The Magic Wheels . . . 36
Acoustic Rainbow . . . 37
Transmission of Sound . . . 37
Progress of Sound . . . 39
Sound turning Corners . . . 39
To tell the distance of Thunder . . . 40
Hearing by the Touch . . . 40
Conversation for the Deaf . . . 40
Glass broken by the Voice . . . 41
Figures produced by Sound . . . 41
Transmitted Vibration . . . 42
Double Vibration . . . 42
Champagne and Sound . . . 42
Music from Palisades . . . 43
Theory of the Jew's Harp . . . 43
Music of the Snail . . . 44
To tune a Guitar without the assistance of the Ear . . . 44
Music from Glass or Metal Rods . . . 44
The Tuning-fork a Flute-player . . . 45
Musical Bottles . . . 46
Theory of Whispering . . . 46
Theory of the Voice . . . 46
Sound along a Wall . . . 47
Sounds more audible by Night than by Day . . . 47
Musical Echo . . . 47
Ventriloquism . . . 48

Light and Heat.
Flashes of Light upon revolving Wheels . . . 53
Decomposition of Light . . . 54
Solar Refraction . . . 54
Incantations . . . 55
To imitate the Light of the Sea . . . 55
Instantaneous Lights . . . 56
To colour the Flame of a Candle . . . 57
To divide the Flame of a Candle . . . 57
Cane Wick Lamp . . . 58
Camphor and Platinum Lamp . . . 58
Platinum and Ether Lamp . . . 58
Floating Light . . . 59
Substitute for a Wax Taper . . . 59
Phosphorescent Fish . . . 59
The Luminous Spectre . . . 59
Light, a Painter . . . 60
Effect of Light upon Crystallization . . . 60
Effect of Light on Plants . . . 60
Instantaneous Effect of Light upon Ice . . . 61
White Light from Zinc . . . 61
Brilliant Light from two Metals . . . 61
Brilliant Light from Steel . . . 61
Lighted Tin . . . 62
Light from Gilt Buttons . . . 62
Light from a Flower . . . 62
Light from Sugar . . . 62
Light from the Potato . . . 63
Light from the Oyster . . . 63
Light from Derbyshire Spar . . . 63
Light from Oyster-shells . . . 64
Rings of Light in Crystal . . . 64
To strike Light with Cane . . . 64
Cause of Transparency . . . 64
Tansparency of Gold . . . 65
Tint changed by Thickness . . . 65
Shadows made darker by increased Light . . . 65
Miniature Thunder and Lightning . . . 66
The Burning Glass . . . 66
Magic of Heat . . . 66
Repulsion by Heat . . . 67
Heat passing through Glass . . . 68
Metals unequally influenced by Heat . . .68
Spontaneous Combustion . . . 69
Inequality of Heat in Fire irons . . . 69
Expansion of Metal by Heat . . . 69
Evaporation of a Metal . . . 69
A Floating Metal on Fire . . . 70
Heat and Cold from Flannel . . . 70
Ice melted by Air . . . 70
To hold a hot Tea-kettle on the Hand . . . 70
Incombustible Linen . . . 71
The Burning Circle . . . 71
Water of different Temperatures in the same Vessel . . . 71
Warmth of different Colours . . . 71
Substitute for Fire . . . 72

Gas and Steam.
Laughing Gas . . . 75
The Luminous Wand . . . 76
To make Carbonic Acid Gas . . . 76
Carbonic Acid Gas in Wine or Beer Vessels . . . 76
To extinguish Flame with Gas . . . 77
Effect of Hydrogen on the Voice . . . 77
Magic Taper . . . 78
The Gas Candle . . . 78
Gas Bubbles . . . 78
Gas-light in the day-time . . . 79
Miniature Balloons . . . 79
Miniature Gas-lighting . . . 79
Musical Gas . . . 80
Miniature Will o'-the-wisp . . . 81
Phosphoric Illumination . . . 81
Combustion of Iron in Oxygen Gas . . . 81
Glow-worm in Oxygen Gas . . . 82
Luminous Charcoal . . . 82
Brilliant Combustion in Oxygen . . . 82
Flame from Cold Metals . . . 83
Phosphorus in Chlorine . . . 83
Caoutchouc Balloons . . . 84
To increase the Light of Coal Gas . . . 84
Gas from Indian Rubber . . . 84
Ether Gas . . . 85
Magic Vapour . . . 85
Gas from the union of Metals . . . 85
Invisible Gases made Visible . . . 86
Light under Water . . . 86
Gaseous Evanescence . . . 86
Violet-coloured Gas . . . 86
To collect Gases . . . 87
The Deflagrating Spoon . . . 87
What is Steam? . . . 87
The Steam Engine simplified . . . 88
To boil Water by Steam . . . 88
Distillation in Miniature . . . 89
Candle or Fire Crackers . . . 89
Steam from the Kettle . . . 89

Fire, Water, and Air.
Coloured Flames . . . 93
Yellow Flame . . . 94
Orange-coloured Flame . . . 94
Emerald Green Flame . . . 94
Instantaneous Flame . . . 94
The Cup of Flame . . . 95
To cool Flame by Metal . . . 95
Proof that Flame is Hollow . . . 95
Camphor sublimed by Flame . . . 95
Green Fire . . . 96
Brilliant Red Fire . . . 96
Purple Fire . . . 96
Silver Fire . . . 97
The Fiery Fountain . . . 97
The Artificial Conflagration . . . 97
Inflammable Powder . . . 97
Combustion without Flame . . . 98
Combustion of Three Metals . . . 98
To make Paper Incombustible . . . 98
Singular Experiments with Glass Tubes . . . 98
Aquatic Bomb . . . 99
Heat not to be estimated by Touch . . . 99
Flame upon Water . . . 100
Rose-coloured Flame on Water . . . 100
To set a Mixture on Fire with Water . . . 100
Waves of Fire on Water . . . 100
Explosion in Water . . . 101
Water from the Flame of a Candle . . . 101
Formation of Water by Fire . . . 101
Boiling upon Cold Water . . . 101
Currents in Boiling Water . . . 102
Hot Water lighter than Cold . . . 102
Expansion of Water by Cold . . . 102
The Cup of Tantalus . . . 103
Imitative Diving Bell . . . 103
The Water-proof Sieve . . . 104
More than full . . . 104
To cause Wine and Water to change places . . . 104
Pyramid of Alum . . . 104
Visible Vibration . . . 105
Charcoal in Sugar . . . 106
Floating Needles . . . 106
Water in a Sling . . . 106
Attraction in a Glass of Water . . . 106
To prevent Cork floating in Water . . . 107
Instantaneous Freezing . . . 107
To freeze Water with Ether . . . 107
Production of Nitre . . . 108
Curious Transposition . . . 108
Animal Barometer . . . 108
Magic Soap . . . 108
Equal Pressure of Water . . . 109
To empty a Glass under Water . . . 109
To empty a Glass of Water without touching it . . . 109
Decomposition of Water . . . 110
Water heavier than Wine . . . 110
To inflate a Bladder without Air . . . 110
Air and Water Balloon . . . 110
Heated Air Balloon . . . 111
The Pneumatic Tinder-box . . . 111
The Bacchus Experiment . . . 111
The Mysterious Circles . . . 112
Prince Rupert's Drops . . . 114
Vegetable Hygrometer . . . 114
The Pneumatic Dancer . . . 115
The Ascending Snake . . . 116
The Pneumatic Phial . . . 116
Resin Bubbles . . . 117
Moisture of the Atmosphere . . . 117
Climates of a Room . . . 117
Bubbles in Champagne . . . 118
Proofs that Air is a heavy Fluid . . . 118
To support a Pea on Air . . . 119
Pyrophorus, or Air-tinder . . . 119
Beauty of a Soap-bubble . . . 120
Why a Guinea falls more quickly than a Feather through the Air . . . 121
Solidity of Air . . . 122
Breathing and Smelling . . . 122

Sleights and Subtleties.
The Ring and the Handkerchief . . . 127
The Knotted Handkerchief . . . 128
The Invisible Strings . . . 130
The Miraculous Apple . . . 131
The Self-balanced Pail . . . 132
The Phantom at command . . . 132
The Miraculous Shilling . . . 134
The Locomotive Shilling . . . 135
The Penetrative Sixpence . . . 136
The Vanishing Sixpence . . . 136
To make a Sixpence balance and spin on its edge on the point of a Needle . . . 137
The Multiplying Coin . . . 137
The Magic Rat Trap . . . 137
The Velocity of Motion . . . 138
The Exploding Bubble . . . 139
The Magic Picture . . . 139
Artificial Lightning . . . 140
Three objects discernible only with both Eyes . . . 140
To tell by a Watch Dial the Hour when a Person intends to rise . . . 140
To make a Ring suspend by a Thread, after the Thread has been burned . . . 141
To melt a piece of Money in a Walnut-shell without injuring the Shell . . . 141
The Magical Mirrors . . . 142
The Enchanted Bottle . . . 143
The Armed Apparition . . . 143
To extract the Silver out of a Ring that is thickly Gilded, so that the Gold may remain entire . . . 144
Curious Experiment with a Glass of Water . . . 144
A Luminous Bottle, which will show the Hour on a Watch in the Dark . . . 144
The Wonderful Hat . . . 145
To bring a Person down upon a Feather . . . 145
The Apparent Impossibility . . . 146
An Omelet cooked in a Hat over the Flame of a Candle . . . 146
The Impossible Omelet . . . 147
Go if you can . . . 147
The Figure Puzzle . . . 147
The Visible Invisible . . . 147
The Double Meaning . . . 148
Quite tired out . . . 148
Something out of the Common . . . 148
To rub one Sixpence into two . . . 149
Magic Circle . . . 149

Melange.
Illusions of Touch . . . 153
Illusion of the Taste . . . 154
The General Bleacher . . . 154
Influence of coloured Glass on bulbous Roots . . . 155
The Spinning-top "asleep" . . . 155
To judge of Weights . . . 156
Quicksilver and Oil united . . . 156
To dissolve the Soda in Glass . . . 156
Waterproof Paper . . . 157
To Dissolve Gold or Platinum . . . 157
Colder than Ice . . . 157
Contra-crystallization . . . 157
One and one do not make two . . . 158
To copy Writing instantly . . . 158
The Rival Dials . . . 158
To spin Indian Rubber . . . 158
Indelible Writing . . . 159
Vegetable Anatomy . . . 159
To tell what o'Clock it is by the Moon . . . 160
The Physiognotype . . . 161
Infinite Divisibility of Matter . . . 161
Holding the Breath . . . 162
Sand in the Hour-Glass . . . 162
Resistance of Sand . . . 163
Glass broken by Sand . . . 164
To bleach Ivory . . . 164
Vanishing Shells . . . 164
The Magic Egg . . . 164
The Magic Whirlpool . . . 165
Magic Porcelain . . . 167
A Galvanic Tongue . . . 168
Drinking Porter out of Pewter . . . 168
Electric or Galvanic Preservation . . .168
Light from the Diamond . . . 169
To break a Stone with a blow of the Fist . . . 169
Mimic Frost-work . . . 169
To melt Lead in a piece of Paper . . . 170
Hydrostatic Balance . . . 170
Metallic Reduction . . . 171
Electrical Attraction and Repulsion . . . 171
Alchemical Electricity . . . 172
The Electric Balls . . . 173
The Electric Dance . . . 173
Electric Light . . . 173
Electric Light from Brown Paper . . . 174
Sudden Production of Light . . . 174
Electricity of the Cat . . . 174